Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected Golden State Killer, was charged Thursday with four additional counts of murder, according to Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley.

DeAngelo already faces charges in Sacramento, Orange and Ventura counties, where he allegedly terrorized victims for years.

Each of the four counts Joseph DeAngelo faces carry the possibility of life without parole or the death sentence.

The Golden State Killer, also known as the Original Night Stalker and the East Area Rapist, is believed responsible for at least 12 homicides, 45 rapes and 120 burglaries, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"Each count carries multiple allegations", Dudley said.

He is now behind bars at the Sacramento County jail. He was then a police officer in Auburn in Northern California from 1976 to 1979 until he was sacked, officials said.

DeAngelo was arrested by Sacramento County sheriff's officials at his home on April 24, in connection with a number of deaths and rapes linked to a single perpetrator active between 1976 and 1986.

DeAngelo allegedly went on a decades-long crime spree involving murder, assault, and almost 50 burglary and rape charges from crimes committed between 1976 and 1986. "In fact, majority spend their lives feverishly seeking answers and desperately hoping for justice".

A suspected serial killer has officially been charged in the 1979 murder of a Dyersville native.

No charges have been filed in Santa Barbara County, however. Police explained that they ultimately determined the crime scene DNA was similar to the DNA of a female relative of DeAngelo's whose genetic profile was online.

DeAngelo's attorney, Diane Howard, did not return a call for comment on Friday.

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